Box Score
HUNTSVILLE – Andrew Fregia crushed a pair of home runs and Seth Ballew weathered an early storm to log seven strong innings as the Sam Houston State Berakats rallied from a three-run deficit to post a 5-3 win over Central Arkansas on Saturday at Don Sanders Stadium.
The Bears (23-15, 11-6 SLC) jumped on Ballew for three runs in the first inning, just one night after exploding for 13 runs on 17 hits in the series opener, but the Sam Houston (27-13, 14-3 SLC) starter settled in from there. He gave up just two hits in his final six innings on the hill, going a season-long 7.0 frames into the game on a misty day at Th Don.
He struck out three to go to 4-1 on the season, and got into position to win when the Kats erupted for four runs – three with two outs – in the seventh inning to take the lead. The go-ahead blow came from Fregia in the form of a two-run homer off of UCA starter Tanner Wiley, his second in as many innings, after Wiley had cruised through the first four innings himself.
Wiley took the loss for UCA, falling to 3-2 on the season, despite striking out four and walking just one in 6.2 innings.
Dakota Mills earned his SLC-best ninth save of the season, getting an inning-ending double play in the eighth before retiring three of four hitters with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth.
UP NEXT
The Kats will look to secure their sixth straight series win in SLC play on Sunday against UCA. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
KEY INNINGS
Top 1st
The first inning looked like a microcosm of Friday night's game for UCA as they wasted no time getting on the board against Ballew, scoring three times in the opening inning for the second straight night. Consecutive doubles by Tyler Smith and Keaton Presley got UCA out in front 2-0 before an RBI single by Rigo Aguilar made it a 3-0 game after an inning.
Bottom 6th
Sam Houston got a runner on base in each of the first three innings, but came up empty each time. Wiley then settled in to retire seven straight hitters entering the sixth inning before Fregia took advantage of an 0-2 pitch, leading off the inning with a solo homer to get the Bearkats on the board.
Bottom 7th
Ballew worked around a two-out error in the top of the seventh to keep the game at a 3-1 margin and then was rewarded in the bottom half of the frame. Consecutive singles by Chase Cryer and Clayton Harp opened the inning and pinch hitter Eric Bohnert got the margin down to 3-2 with an RBI ground out. Then, with two outs in the inning, Trey Ochoa delivered an RBI single over the oustretched glove of shortstop Eddy Sanchez that scored Harp and knotted things up at 3-3. That brought up Fregia again with a man on base, and again he delivered, capping a 3-for-4 day with a two-run homer to left field that put the Kats ahead to stay.
QUOTABLES
Coach Deggs on rebounding on Saturday after Friday night's loss …
“We came out of here last night and felt great as a ballclub. They roughed up a couple of our pitchers, but we probably had the best approach and most nastiness we've had all year at the dish last night. If we hit one ball hard we hit 15 right on the screws just at people. Sometimes you just have to wait for that to pass and just stay grinding. If you can do what we did, hit the ball hard but right at guys, but stay ready and when you get the kill shot, take it and that's what we did today.”
Deggs on the quality approach carrying over into Saturday and Seth Ballew's day …
“These guys just keep playing, and playing, and playing. An opportunity presented itself and we took advantage. But the star of the game was Seth Ballew. He got punched in the face in the first inning and didn't flinch, didn't back up, he just kept coming. He settled in and got four pitches going and was able to get us all the way to the seventh. That game is on him right there and I'm super proud of that performance.”
Deggs on overcoming the quality play of UCA …
“You get a hot ballclub like that when every time they swing the bat something is falling and it will take a toll on you psychologically. They are just making every play, but you just have to stay with it. That's what we did today and that's what great teams do.”
Deggs on Andrew Fregia's day and how the team is playing going into Sunday …
“He's starting to heat up, and I mean really heat up. And when Drew hits like that he can take a team on for a while. He's probably barreled up 12-14 balls in the last three games. Since Wednesday against Houston I've really liked the way we have played and it's probably been our best ball of the year. We just didn't get off to a great start today, that's all.”
